POULTRY NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18805, 6 July 1929, Page 29 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J.S.—The standard for the English Brown Leghorn is as follows: —Plumage of cock —Neck hackle rich orange red, striped with black, crimson-red at the front below his wattles. Back— Shoulder coverts and wing bow deep crimson-red or maroon: wing coverts steel-blue with green reflections forming a broad bar across; primaries brown; secondaries deep bay on the outer web (all that appears when the wing is closed) and black on the inner. Saddle—Rich orange-red, with or without a few black stripes. Breast and underparts—Glossy black, quite free from brown splashes. Tail—Black glossed with green; any white in tail very objectionable; tail coverts black edged with brown. Plumage of hen— Hackle rich golden yellow, broadly striped with black; breast salmon-red, running into maroon, around the head and wattles, and ash-grey at the thighs. Body-colour rich brown, very closely and evenly pencilled with black, the leathers free from light shafts and the wings free from any red tinge; tail black, outer feathers pencilled with brown. Serious defects—Cock's comb (single) twisted or falling over, or hen’s comb erect; rosecomb such as to obstruct the sight; earlobes red; any white in face; legs other than yellow or orange; wry or squirrel tail; any bodily deformity or white feathers. J.E.K. —Paralysis in fowls. In my experience it is not advisable to persevere with them, as the cure would only be temporary. It shows a weakness in constitution. If a breeder, I would advise to keep the fowl out of the breeding pen. There is no guaranteed cure. NOTES. (By “Crow Black.”) The United Pigeon Fanciers’ Club will hold a meeting in the Christchurch Poultry Club rooms on Wednesday evening. A large attendance is expected, as final arrangements for the Produce Stakes table shows will be drawn up. The Rangiora Poultry Club's annual show is being held to-day. Mr B. Jones, secretary of the Lyttelton Fanciers’ Club, will be in attendance at the Christchurch Poultry Club’s rooms on Monday evening to receive entries for his club's annual show to be held on J»uly 19 and 20. The championships to be competed for at the Lyttelton Fanciers’ Club show are as follow:—Brahma (open class), Orpington other than Black (open class). Utility Silver Wyandotte, Nun or Jacobin Mondaine, Kings, Carneaux or Runt Pigeon, Norwich Cinnamon Canary, non-colour-fed, Persian cat, female, smoke, blue, or black (over six months). The Oamaru Poultry Club’s annual show will be held next Friday and Saturday. Intending exhibitors are reminded to get their birds away on Thursday. The S'ew Zealand Utility Poultry Club held its usual monthly meeting in the club rooms on Tuesday, Mr A. T. Smith presiding. The chairman welcomed Mr Black, the Government Economist, to the meeting. Correspondence was received from the Hon G. Witty, Messrs O. Hawkes, R. V.’. Hawke, M.P., and D. G. Sullivan, M.P.. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, the Rev J. K. Archer, and Mr G. 11. Woods accepting the office of vice-patron of the club, and from the Hon G. W. Forbes the position of patron. Mr E. Hitchcock wrote stating that the Electricity Committee would be pleased to meet a deputation from the club in the matter of a reduction of the price of electricity for incubators and brooders. It was decided to meet as arranged and report at the next education evening. Mrs J. Plow wrote acknowledging the club’s donation for services rendered. Mr J. R. Griffin wrote stating that in his opinion the heavy breeds at the competition were being fed on too heavy a mash, and that this was the reason for the birds laying only moderately, and in some cases laying un-der-weight eggs. This matter was left over to be dealt with by the Management Committee, to report at the next meeting. The caretaker reported that the birds in the competition were looking well. The egg yield had dropped a little and a few birds had gone into a moult. The heavy breeds had eased a little, but the ducks had shown some improvement. The eggs marketed for the past four weeks were 129 dozen firsts and 71 dozen seconds, and 41 dozen duck eggs. The Education Committee reported having drawn up the lollowing syllabus to the end of September: July, “Incubators,” Mr J. Liggins; August, “Marketing and Grading of Eggs' for Export,” Mr C. Cusson. “Duck and Chicken Rearing.” Messrs J. W. Thompson and W. E. Green; September, "Breeding,” Dr A. C. M’Killop, or “Poultry Keeping in New South Wales,” Mr J. E. Cooper. Other lectures will be arranged later. The Management Committee reported that the birds were in good condition and that there was an abundance of green feed. The matter of procuring two dogs for the competition ground wi.s left in the hands of Mr W. E. Green to report at the next meeting. The club had received an offer of two Alsatian puppies. The offer w*as held over for further inquiries. It was decided to hold a membership campaign, and prizes were offered by the club and by Mr West for the member gaining the most members. As this is the jubilee year of the club, it was decided to hold a dinner and reunion in the second week in August to celebrate the occasion. It was decided that photographs of all the past presidents and all the committees for this year be procured and hung in the club rooms. The treasurer’s report showed the club’s finances to be satisfactory. Mr C. R. Hill w T rote resigning from the club, and Mr F. Johnson was elected a new member.

The council of the South Island Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Associa tion met oil Monday evening in the Christchurch Poultry Club’s rooms. Mr G. E. Jeffreys presiding. The Westport Poultry Club reported that its show had been postponed indefinitely. It was decided that a vote of sympathy be passed to the Westport Club in its misfortune. The Oamaru Club forwarded its schedule, which was packed. The Gore Club’s schedule and the Hokitika Club's schedule were in order and passed. Mr C. P. Bradford will act as judge for Hokitika. Mr S. Litbgow’s inquiry for a ruling on a championship was left in the hands of the secretary to reply' to. The Greymouth Poultry Club forwarded its schedu-e, which had bet :i printed without being passed by the association. The secretary was instructed to club s attention to the matter and also t ;> suggested alterations for the judges. The Granity Club’s schedule was passed. Mr J. Currie, Wellington, will act as judge. The following championships have been won during the season at Dunedin : Old English Game, female, W Henderson; Hamburgh, R. Tregea; Utility Sussex. P. A. Cornish; Homer flen, ringed 1928, G. T. Coutts; Norwich Yellow Canary, G. H. Watson; Persian Kitten under six months, W Hamlin. Nightcaps: Utility Duck (any variety), D. Wilson: Pekin Bantam, other than Buff or Cinnamon, M. E.

Donnell; Homer Hen, 275 miles or over, J. W. Cox. Kakataki: Indian Game, W. Hall; Sussex (open class), Mrs H. J. Parry. Otautau: Any variety Ban tarn other than Game Sebright, Rosecomb, Pekin or Polish, \V. J. Worman; Utility Brown Leghorn, R. Drysdale: Homer cock, ringed, R. Drysdale. Waimate: Modern Game, male (any colour), W. H. Turvey; Modern Game, female (any colour), W. H. Turvey; Utility White Leghorn, male, M. C. Craig; Tumbler Pigeon, other than a Self, A. Pelvin. The Hokitika Poultry Club’s annual fixture will be held on Friday and Saturday. Large entries have been received, and the show promises to be the most successful yet held by the club. The championship classes have drawn good support, and will be keenly contested. Exhibitors are reminded to get their birds to the railway on Thursday. An interesting exhibit at the Waimate Poultry Show last week was an entry of Black Spanish. The birds attracted a good deal of attention. They were the first of this kind that have been exhibited in the South Island for a good number of years. The birds were a little on the young side, and did not show their true quality. The cockerel showed promise of being a fine bird. The pullets were a very good type. Their owner informed me that he was procuring some more of this stock later on. The writer called on Mr T. H. Wilce during his visit to the Waimate Show, and was shown over his plant, which is very up-to-date. The quality of the stock is something to be proud of. being nice, big-bodied birds. The male birds were outstanding, of good stype and size, with a wonderful flow of feather. Mr Wilce is a competitor at the Papanui egg-laying competitions, and has met with a good deal of success. He also is a keen showman, and at the show was very successful. Mr Wilce turns out between three and four thousand chicks every season. The poultry fanciers’ excursion to Greymouth on August 3 promises to be most successful. Intending visitors are advfised to get tickets from Mr 11. G. Clarke, secretary, Christchurch Poultry Club, cr Miss E. Boyns, Ferry Road. The following are the awards for cups and specials in the canary section at the recent Christchurch Poultry Club show: Poultry Club cups were won by R. Law, Lyttelton; 11. D. Mace, Hastings (two); J. Baker, Oamaru, and G. H. Watson. Mr Mace, of Hastings, who sent down a good team of Norwich, had the honour of being the first breeder to have his name engraved on the handsome cup donated by Mr RW. Thompson. Mr Mace also won outright the Candy Cup, and the Canary Club Norwich Cup. The Peace Shield, which is competed for annually for most points in the canary section, unflighted classes, and which carries with it a handsome blue ribbon, was won by Mr Mace for the second time in succession. His performance was outstanding, being seven firsts, two seconds and one third. The Club Cup for the best Yorkshire was won by A. Perry. Club certificates for the best unflighted birds in their classes were won by J. Baker, Clear Yellow Yorkshire; A. Perry, Clear Buff Yorkshire; H. D. Mace, Clear Yellow Norwich; H. D. Mace, Clear Buff Norwich. The South Island Championship for Yorkshires was won by S. Lithgow, Invercargill. The Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club held a meeting in the club rooms, Hereford Street, on Monday evening, Mr G. E. Jeffreys presiding. Mrs R. Turner wrote inquiring lor prize-money. This matter was left in the hands of the secretary. Mr W. H. Turvey, Oamaru, wrote stating that he had won the Clarkson Cup three times, and that it now became his property. This matter was held over until a reply had been received from Mr D. Stewart, Taranaki. Mr S. Lithgow, Invercargill, wrote asking for a ruling in the Yorkshire Canary Championship. It was decided to hand this matter over to the South Island Association. The Rangiora Poultry Club wrote asking for hire of plant for its show. The application was granted. Mr E. D. Barry. Nelson, wrote thanking the club for the splendid condition of his birds on their return from the show, and wished the trophies won by him to be disposed of for the benefit of the Canterbury Bantam Club. Mr C. Y. Parfit, Greymouth, wrote asking to be supplied with the award cards won by his birds at the recent show, also with a catalogue. This matter was left in the hands of the secretary. Messrs J. D. Gobbe and R. W. Thompson gave a report on their visit to the Waimate Poultry Club’s show. The writer has received a copy of the Gore Poultry Club’s schedule for its show to be held on July 26 and 27. The championships to be competed for are as follows: Dorking (open class). White Wyandotte (open class), Utility Black Orpington (male), Muffled Tumbler Pigeon, Magpie Pigeon, Fantail Pigeon. Entries close on Monday, July 15, and schedules may be obtained from R. Drysdal, 16, Ashton Street, Gore.

CULLiNG POULTRY AND SELECTING BREEDING STOCK. The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club held an education evening in the club’s rooms last week, the speaker being Mr C. Cussen, Government poultry instructor, who took as his subject, “Culling Poultry and Selecting Breeding Stock.” Mr W. 11. West presided. At the conclusion of his address Mr Cussen, who answered a number of questions, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr Cussen, in the course of his address, spoke as follows: Owing to the fact that the signs which go to indicate usefulness mostly disappear when the moulting process begins, the best time to cull one’s flock and select breeders is during February and March, or before many of the birds start to moult. In my opinion, the average production of many of our flocks could at almost any time be raised if poultry’ keepers would adopt a regular system of culling. The knowledge of how to pick the unprofitable birds and to select the best and most suitable for breeding purposes is naturally one of the most important aspects of the poultry industry, for unless the poultrykeeper has some knowledge of this art and carries out a regular system of | culling throughout the year, he can hardly expect to get the best returns for his labour. In order that the importance of this subject may be even more appreciated, and to show the growing need for regular culling, I quote the following, which shows how the cost of feeding the lav ing hen has increased during the past twenty-two years: When the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club conducted its first laying competition during 1906-7 the average cost of feeding was 7s lOd per bird for the year. The club—as you know—is still carrying on its good work, but the cost

of feeding during the 1925-29 competition was 15s lOd per bird, thus showing that it cost the club Ss more to feed each bird for that year than it did in 1906, or twenty-two years ago. Of more or less recent years, and especially since the inauguration of laying tests in various parts of the world, where birds have been individually tested, much useful and interesting information has been obtained; not only have we learned the wonderful producing capacity of the hen and duck when kept under suitable conditions, but as a result of these tests and a careful study of the winning birds by keen observers, much knowledge has been gained, with the result that many poultry keepers who have taken advantage of the information which has been distributed by various authorities, are able to carry out a regular system of. culling throughout the year, and by-'So doing are able to keep the average production of their flocks up to a paying basis by discarding the unprofitable hens. It is often asked what is a fair average to expect from a flock of good pullets. I quote the following, being the percentage egg production from 336 pullets for the year, at Papanui:

If the average flock production from pullets falls below 50 per cent it is usually a sign that some of the birds should be culled out. Before starting to cull a pen of birds the operator should know something of the conditions under which they have been kept, also the age of the birds he is about to examine. For instance, if the flock were subject to a sudden change of feed, especially during December or January, many good birds may have been driven into a moult. The same thing is likely to happen if the flock has been under-fed. In fact, when a large percentage of a flock ceases laying and goes into a moult before the New Year it is usually a case of under-feeding. Again, the age of the birds must be considered, for, generally speaking, yearling hens that started laying in February of last year can hardly be expected to lay as late into this autumn as the second-year hens that did not begin laying tiil about August last, as the latter were busy moulting during last autumn. It is well, therefore, that the different ages should be kept separate, or, where this is not practical, they should be marked. As alread: indicated, the most profitable plan is to cull regularly throughout the year and get rid of the unprofitable birds as soon as they can be detected. This not only keeps the flock on a better paying basis, but also allows more rc om to the growing stock. However, the best time to select breeding stock is during February and March, before many birds have started j to moult. If culling a mixed flock of birds, I should advise as follows: (1) All birds that are two and a half years old and over should be put out as soon as they stop laying, for after the majority of hens have been through two laying seasons they are usually finished as profitable commercial egg producers. However, if one is short of breeding stock, and some of the two and a half year hens are of exceptional breed type, the best should be retained for the breeding pen. (2) The first birds of a given age to moult should be culled, for such birds are usually those of poor constitution. The last birds to moult in a flock are generally the strongest and best producers. (3) Any over-fat, or exceptionally heavy, hens for the breed they represent may also be culled, as the fact of their becoming over-fat shows that they are not concerned in egg production and the exceptionally heavy hen is seldom a good producer. (4) Birds showing want of vigour and vitality should be culled. These can be picked out by their want of activity, looseness of feather and dullness of head and eye. Physical activity is one, if not the chief, evidence of health. Slow-moving, sluggish birds are never great producers. The hen that is constantly on the hunt for food, and never seems satisfied with what you give her is usually amongst your best. The heavy eaters are the layers: they go to roost late and are first off in the morning. Increased food production means increased egg production, and failing appetites a lower egg yield. It therefore follows that the great producers have a good crop capacity, and, as they are digesting a large quantity of food they usually' possess h good depth of abdomen; in fact, the deepest part of a good layer’s frame is straight down from where the tail comes, out of the body'; the legs will be well back and set well apart. Too much importance can hardly be attached to the head points when selecting layers. The best layers’ heads are usually’ inclined to be rather long for the breed they represent. The small, round sparrow, or pigeon-headed bird usually belongs to the poor producer.

When laying, the comb should be of bright red in colour, and have a warm, waxy feeling. The comb should be of medium size and thickness, not coarse, at the same time not flabby'. The comb of the good layer usually follows the line of the head, and one seldom finds the best layers with a comb sticking up at the back. The wattles should be fine in texture and carried close together. The eyes should be bright, large and prominent; the ey'eball of the best layers is often situated a little back from the centre, while with the poor layers (and more often with heavy breeds) one finds the eyeball located towards the front of the ey'e-socket and sunken. Feathering. This is a point which needs attention. The best utility birds are closely and tightly' feathered. Looseness of feather as a rule goes along with coarseness, slow maturity' nd poor laying capacity'. If the temperaments of your birds are observed it will be found that the wild, nervous birds that remain at the back of the flock at feeding time are not y’our best, and neither are the ones that get in y r our way' when you enter the pen. but the best are amongst those birds that are neither too tame nor too wild, but are on the watch, keep at a certain distance and are not easy to catch. When culling Leghorns or any' of the y'ellow-fieshed birds, the leg and beak colour are good guides as to production. As a rule when well reared Leghorn pullets start, to lay they have bright, yellow legs and beaks, but as they continue producing the colour disappears, first from the beak, then from the legs, so if one finds Leghorn hens in February and March with yellow legs and beak, one may be sure such birds have not done much laying for some time, and should therefore be culled. After the flock has been culled, the best of those remaining should be selected for the breeding pen, and as the breeding hen is the foundation of the poultry industry, a poultryman’s success will largely depend on the care

taken and knowledge shown in this branch of work. That great improvement has been made in the producing power of our birds is shown by’ the fact that., the average egg yield from all < birds that took part in the first local competition during 1906-7 was 143, and for the 1925-29 competition the average yield was 222. This great improvement { of just over 64 per cent goes to show , that breeders are making steady' pro- l gress. The three great essentials to ( keep in mind when selecting breeding ] stock are: — l (1) Purity' of blood. (2) Vigour and constitution. (3) Capacity' to produce and to re- , produce. ; I mention purity' of blood first as one can never expect to make much lasting ; progress if he breeds from mongrel stock, and has no definite standard or 1 model to act as a guide. To those who are anxious to breed - their birds up to standard, I should advise them to secure a copy of the Do- , minion Utility Poultry Standards, and they will find much can be learned by a study of the plates, text and scale of ' points contained therein. It is necessary to know something of the history or pedigree of the birds to be bred from. A pure line of descent from ancestors that have been noted for constitution and production is what is needed. The chief characteristics of the best birds will be something as follows: During February and March, head fairly fine, showing strength and character, not coarse, but wide at the top and narrower below the jaws. Ido not care for the sparrow or pigeonheaded birds. Comb of medium size, and thickness—not coarse, but not flabby. Wattles of medium size, fine in texture and carried close together. Plumage hard, tight and dense, carried close to the body and often of a worn and threadbare appearance, while many’ good Leghorns have a more or less strawery tinge in the feather. Body will show length, depth and width, with a good crop capacity and depth of abdomen: back rather flat with width carried well back to the tail. The skin of the abdomen should be of a fine, silky, flexible texture. This is a very important point. Legs of a medium length, carried well back and wide apart. Size—it is well to watch this point, as the general tendency is for the average size of one’s birds to get smaller. In fact, some poultry’-keepers consider that a bird must be on the small side to be a good layer, but the sooner we realise that smallness is not the cause of great egg production but its effect, the better it will be for the industry. I like to see Leghorn hens that are picked as breeders to weigh, say, eighteenmonths old birds, from 41b to 431 b each, and the two and a half years old birds to weigh from 4-}lb to silb each. It is not the very early layer that makes the best breeders. The best as a rule are a little larger than the very best lay’ers in a flock. They come from those that develop their frames first and the internal organs after. While the hens for the breeding pc-n should be as good as possible, no care is too great in the selection of a male bird. As with the breeding hen, he should possess undoubted constitutional vigour. This qualification (as in the case of a female) is indicated by tight, thick feathering, a bold eye, clean face, shanks short, legs set wide apart, well developed crop, good width across back, and the possessor of a very active disposition. It is well to remember that the male is more than half the breeding pen, as he leaves his influence in every chicken hatched from his pen, and in mating up the breeding stock it is important to choose a male | that is strong where the females are weak, or vice versa. The selecting and mating of breeding stock is no doubt an art, and the most successful utility poultry breeders ’ are those who have the eye for form [ and by study and observation can cor- , rectly gauge individuality when it comes to mating up his birds.

CAT AND PET SHOWS.

SUCCESSFUL COMPETITORS. The following is the corrected list of cups and specials won by exhibitors in the cat classes at the Christchurch Poultry Club’s show:— Poultry Club cup for best Persian in show and the Temple Cup; best grey tabby in show; best matched pair for breeding; Cat and Pet Society specials —Mrs A. Arnold. Poultrv Club cup for best female in show: the Wilkinson Cup; two Cat and Pet: Society specials—Mrs A. 13. Bremford, Thrtaru. Best light male in show. Cat and Pet Society special and best dark female in show; two Poultry Club specials—Mrs T. Lewis. South Island championship for best smoke male in show—Miss G. M. BrayBest short-haired cat, Poultry Club cup—Mrs Mac Gibbon. Poultry Club cup for best kitten in show, two cups by Cat and Pet Club and five specials—Mrs A. W. Mac Gilli Sacred Siamese, Poultry Club special and Car. and Pet Society special —M iss 13. Boyns*. Several Christchurch Persian cat fanciers journeyed to the Ashburton show and were very successful. Mrs E. Daley won the South Island championship for the best Persian over six months, other than a smoke, blue or black; also the cup for the best Persian in show, and two specials: Mrs T. Lewis secured the special for the best Persian female in the show; Miss E. Boyns the special for the best shorthaired cat in the show. The specials for most points in Persian classes and for the best kitten in the show were won by Mrs A. W. MacGillivray.

EGG-LAYING. PAPANUI COMPETITION. At the twenty-fifth egg-laying competition conducted by the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club at Papanui, the leading birds on June 29 were as folJ. 11. SHAW MEMORIAL TEST. (Heavy Breeds.) Weekly

April ... 22 per cent Mav per cent June ... 53 per cent July ... 55 per cent August ... 65 per cent September ... 74 per cent October per cent November ... 68 per cent December per cent Tanuary per cent F ebruary per cent March per cent

total. 035. dr. Tl. Black Orpingtons— T. B. Dalziel J. M. Campbell .. ; S it l it 2 . 1 11 1» 71 : 1 ii ! 1 £ $ »r:::: F. n H^ves !r ? s '..:::: . G IS 7 6o .5 10 14 61 WHITE LEGHORN* S. (Bach competitor to enter three birds). Weekly Totals total to date. Numbers Numbers 12 3 12 3 S. E. Davoy ?: D. a H'ir^ei Mlill Miss J. Williams .. :: A. M. Espie ...... 2 S £ Si St S2 i ? 5 si s IB5SI! ! 2 52 22 22 (Six Birds.) Weekly total, oz. dr. Tl. . 27 55 13 361 . 32 64 11 344 . 30 61 11 343 . 34 74 4 340 . 25 40 13 311 ¥. SaSSf* ::::::: 6. J. Verrail £ &3S? :::::::: 12 221? 12? Black Orpingtons— J. Kingslanrl .... H. W. Beck ANY OTHER VAT : ii tl l 222 TETY LIGHT (Three Birds). Except White Heghorns. Total. 1 2 3 1 2 3 R. Pearce (Aneonas) R. Pearce < A nconas) S. 11. Mitchell S. H. JIItoh'n <0naS) (Aneonas) ANY OTHER VA 4 5 fi 53 52 28 531 S, 9 46 4 5 0 47 55 25 5 0 0 32 D 21 RIETY HEAVY BREED. (Three Birds). (Except Black Orpingtons). ' V T«tni Totally Sussex) P. A. Cornish (High » Sussex) 6 5 6 55 48 GS 4 5 6 12 39 71

BLACK ORPINGTONS. (Three Birds). Weekly Grand | Total. Total. 12 3 12 3 R. M. Cookson 5 G 6 70 69 79 H. J. Ball in 3 4 4 75 56 69 T. D. Dalziel G 5 1 59 61 53 RUCK TEST. (Each competitor to enter three ducks) Weekly Grand Total. Total. 12 3 12 3 White Pekins— J. W. Thomson 0 5 0 2 16 0 Indian Runners— A. G. F. Ross 7 7 7 81 71 SI F. R. Cotton 7 7 6 79 65 79 (}. A. Heath 7 5 7 77 70 6S T. 1). Dalziel, No. 2 6 G 7 62 GG 73